Yay!

Well, it’s my birthday, and I think 34 is going to be excellent. I was scolded the other day when I (ironically) said my life was boring. My life is not boring. I have a great life. I live in a city I love more than any other. Yes, it’s true. I love Portland better than I love New York, Paris, London and Los Angeles. Combined. (I KNOW, I SAID IT!)

I have the most amazing friends in real life and on the internets. I really couldn’t have known that friendship could be this rewarding, satisfying, exciting and invigorating.  I have three women in my life who are my pillars, seriously. Veronique, Kathryn and Kiala (I did that in order of meeting, fairness and all that). I’d never really had true blue best female friends before. Those three ladies taught me that I can be a friend too. They are all always there for me, and teach me every single day what it is to be a friend, a writer, a mother, funny and smart and serious. They are my rocks.

I have an amazing business partner. Frayn and I have been working together for a year now and we were each others’ first business partners. And we just sort of clicked. Sure, we drive each other nuts every once in a while, but working with her is always easy. That’s the best way I can describe our relationship — easy. It’s what I picture a very wonderful marriage to be like. The daily things are simple. The big things are simple. The choices are simple to make. We have a code that we work with. A set of standards we use to make our decisions. It eliminates drama and emotion.  Whenever something good happens, we say WE, and whenever we make a mistake, we say WE. And, most importantly, we laugh our asses off when we make a mistake. I feel so lucky that she’s in my life.

Back Fence. Well, what can I say about Back Fence? A year ago, we were building a stage in a space that had no restroom. Now 250 people come to our shows. And enjoy proper plumbing. We’ve had features in all the papers. We have the finest storytellers around. We have a new project in the works. We have the amazing Assistant Nathalie. And Intern Meagan.  It is a success.

My mom and my stepdad are the greatest support system on the planet. I remember when my stepdad came into my life. I was 13 and wow that’s a bad age for parents to get divorced. I remember being so angry about the whole thing. And as time has gone on, I thought, wow, my mom is a lucky woman to have such a good man in her life. And for the past few years, I’ve been thinking, I’m the lucky one to have such a good man in my life. My stepdad met a pissed off 13 year old girl who said no shortage of rotten things to him. And he quietly loved me and supported me and taught me amazing stuff (how to catch a fish, for one) all this time. 21 years. God. 21 years of knowing me. And he still loves me! I don’t know how he does it. Really. My mom is a rock. And, like all moms and daughters, we don’t get each other sometimes, and she knows me a little too well, but she always loves me. (And gives her opinion…whether or not I want to hear it.) I couldn’t ask for better parents.

Steve and I continue to be friends. My son has a wonderful dad, and both of those guys make me laugh and drive me nuts in equal measures. I think we will have a full life of parenting and friendship, and I’m so proud that my son will grow up in two rich homes with parents who love him and work together. I hope that he’ll grown up and know that people can love each other in many ways.

I wasn’t going to do this today because it felt too soon, but I’m going to do it anyway. I’m very lucky that there is someone new in my life too. (Okay the break up thing has been happening for a long time, Fan Club. But I just didn’t want to write about it.) I’m very lucky that I pick good guys. All the men in my life have always been really wonderful, kind, loving people. As for this guy, we are still getting to know each other and that is exciting and scary. And even when we aren’t on the phone or near him, I feel him pushing me. I feel him whispering in my ear, “You go do that. Go on. Do it.” It is a new feeling. And invaluable.

More than a year ago, my mom sent me a little dainty gold birdie necklace. It came with a little story as these things are wont to do. The story was something about wishes and dreams and being brave. It came at a time when I felt very alone, and very dark. I wore it every single day. And as I touched it in the day, it felt so fragile to me.  Like if I pressed too hard, the wings would break off.

This morning, I got this present.

I think it’s a nice way to ring in 34. It’s bigger, and the Back Fence blue. It is solid and smooth. It’s in flight. I think that’s what 34 will bring. Less fragility. More strength. And flight. Delicious flight.

A new bird to ring in 34.

So, I will see so many of you tonight. And for all of you, thank you for being wonderful. Thank you for your love and support and, of course, for making me laugh.